Dear Folks,

I need help.

I am reading this book, and in this book the author mentions the Great Scare of Forty-Five.

Sure, but…

What the heck is THAT?

For some reason, the author expects all readers to know what this great scare might have been, and what it might have been like to live through it.

I may be an Anglophile, yet I have never even heard of this great scare. Is this supposed to be the worst panic to ever hit London, or something?

And, when you were a schoolboy, how did you ever handle life during the Great Scare of Forty-Five, in London?

I am really enjoying this book, written in English, about my favorite subject.

I just wish I knew more about these allusions that must be so obvious to some, maybe to Londoners, or just to guys from the UK, in general.

Sure, I know that most men here on TV were sent over from the UK. I appreciate this fact, and even prefer it. Now and then, maybe they could help out, a little, when we Americans don’t know some important things that we read in books.

I will check back later for my answer.

Thank you and regards,

Gamma

Note:  I will say this though…  I would have been quite happy to live in England, rather than the US, around the 1960s, I think.

However, are Londoners given to panics and Great Scares, periodically?

For that matter: Who is this Bonnie Prince, and why is he so Bonnie? Is the adjective Bonnie English?

You worry too much..........

Bonnie Prince Charlie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Edward_Stuart

Try googling "the great scare of 1745"

Just now, chickenslegs said:

Bonnie Prince Charlie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Edward_Stuart

Try googling "the great scare of 1745"

I would prefer to get my information from the horse's mouth.

Also, these days, with AI Hallucinating all over the place, the Internet is becoming ever-more untrustworthy for important information.

2 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I would prefer to get my information from the horse's mouth.

Also, these days, with AI Hallucinating all over the place, the Internet is becoming ever-more untrustworthy for important information.

There won't be any folks still alive to remember the great scare.

35 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

There won't be any folks still alive to remember the great scare.

The AI Gemini told me that there would be.

So, this is why I am asking.

Also, how much has this Great Scare influenced the lives of Londoners, to this day...

I have several additional questions, as well.

8 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

The AI Gemini told me that there would be.

So, this is why I am asking.

Also, how much has this Great Scare influenced the lives of Londoners, to this day...

I have several additional questions, as well.

The Great Scare was 1745 (not quarter to six in the evening).

In 1745 the Jacobite (Stuart) claimant of the throne of England and Scotland landed in Scotland.

The Hanoverian Royal Family had been brought in in 1714 to rule (George 1) because, although he was only 52nd in line to the throne he was a Protestant, the 51 before him, Stuarts, were all Catholic or sympathetic to Catholicism. The leading Stuart, Charles Stuart, also known as "The Young Pretender" or "Bonnie Prince Charlie" along with the rest of the family and their supporters wnt into exile in France. Charles Stuart had a significant following amongst the Highland Clans in Scotland, and raised quite a large Rebol Army. They captured Edinburgh and defeated the Government forces at Prestonpans and headed South to London, reaching Derby - about 2/3 of the way down England in Early December. This led to considerable panic amongst the Hanoverian government in London - the "Great Scare" about which you ask.

However the expected English support never materialised, nor did the French support which had been promised, and faced with a larger and experienced British Force gathered from troops brought back from the war against the Spanish in the Netherlands, led by the William Duke of Cumberland, son of King George. The rebels retreated back into Scotland. Finally being brought to battle at Inverness in 1746 (Culloden), and soundly defeated. The battle was followed by a fairly, no very, vicious occupation of the Highlands to put down for good the rebellious clans.

Little quarter was given to the Clans - mind you I doubt that they would have shown any mercy if they had got to London - hence "The Great Scare"! Bonnie Prince Charlie escaped by boat to France where he remained as "The Pretender", living out his life as a rathr sulky piss head!

One result of the 1745 rebellion, which ended all realistic Stuart claims to the throne, was that water glasses are removed from tables at dinners in England and Scotland if the loyal toast to the monarch is to be drunk. This prevents dissaffected supporters of the Stuart claim from passing their wine glasses over water glasses and drinking the toast to the king over the water!

8 minutes ago, JAG said:

"The Pretender", living out his life as a rathr sulky piss head!

Also, I had a question about this word BONNIE.

Is this English or some other language.

I do not like this word, Bonnie, by the way.

I would NEVER use such a word to describe anything.

It's just not.....MANLY enough for me, in my view.

So I doubt this word has any origins in England.

Am I correct?

Also, who uses such a word?

It's OK for some, but just not a word that I might use myself.

Bonnie is a term of endearment used in Scottish English and the dialects of Northeat England.

It likely originated in Scotland and spread to Northeast England.

1 minute ago, JAG said:

Bonnie is a term of endearment used in Scottish English and the dialects of Northeat England.

I think this word should be reserved for small sailboats, is all that I am saying.

But I say this with bias, having, myself, a tin American ear for English.

34 minutes ago, JAG said:

One result of the 1745 rebellion, which ended all realistic Stuart claims to the throne, was that water glasses are removed from tables at dinners in England and Scotland if the loyal toast to the monarch is to be drunk. This prevents dissaffected supporters of the Stuart claim from passing their wine glasses over water glasses and drinking the toast to the king over the water!

Good job on the history lesson.

Also, I will enjoy the symbolism next time the waiter removes my water glass.

The phrase "Great Scare of Forty-Five" likely refers to the

Jacobite rising of 1745 (often called "the 'Forty-Five'"), a major rebellion in Scotland and Northern England. 

Been watching Outland, a great TV series, and this is featured heavily in the first 3 series

16 hours ago, JAG said:

Bonnie is a term of endearment used in Scottish English and the dialects of Northeat England.

It likely originated in Scotland and spread to Northeast England.

I think It would be a common Norse word. I think the relationship between Geordie and Scots is cousinal, from a common parent.

16 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I think this word should be reserved for small sailboats, is all that I am saying.

But I say this with bias, having, myself, a tin American ear for English.

Better a t’in ear t’an a t’ik ear

27 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

I think It would be a common Norse word. I think the relationship between Geordie and Scots is cousinal, from a common parent.

Thank you so much for your considered, and well-informed, opinions, here.

I really NEEDED this input.

This entire THING has been bugging me, for days, and I know that you can believe that this is true.

Once again: Thank You...!!!!!!

26 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

Better a t’in ear t’an a t’ik ear

Better a tin ear, than to be the Tin Man.

2 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Better a tin ear, than to be the Tin Man.

Shure, and I'm tin, and you're tin, but he's tinner tan bot' of us put togither

3 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Thank you so much for your considered, and well-informed, opinions, here.

I really NEEDED this input.

This entire THING has been bugging me, for days, and I know that you can believe that this is true.

Once again: Thank You...!!!!!!

"bonnie" really means 'good looking', but it is generally only be applied to lasses, lads or banks.

47 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

"bonnie" really means 'good looking', but it is generally only be applied to lasses, lads or banks.

I am here, wishing you and yours...a very...

BONNIE Year, 2026, this new upcoming year of the FIRE HORSE.

I just hope that we will not be required to put out so many fires, in 2026, as some of us were forced into doing...

In 2025.

2 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I am here, wishing you and yours...a very...

BONNIE Year, 2026, this new upcoming year of the FIRE HORSE.

I just hope that we will not be required to put out so many fires, in 2026, as some of us were forced into doing...

In 2025.

Bairns. Bairns are bonnie 'n a' as well.

E'bdy's bairns are bonnie, but there's none as bonnie as yer ain.
Same as farts.

4 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

Bairns. Bairns are bonnie 'n a' as well.

E'bdy's bairns are bonnie, but there's none as bonnie as yer ain.
Same as farts.

Speaking of a SCARE...

Just after recovering from my dream this morning, and...

Not yet fully awake,

I ventured outside, and...

I almost stepped on this Bonnie Beast....

What say you:

Would this have killed me?

or....

Is this friend harmless????

Do tell, ...

Please.

3 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Speaking of a SCARE...

Just after recovering from my dream this morning, and...

Not yet fully awake,

I ventured outside, and...

I almost stepped on this Bonnie Beast....

What say you:

Would this have killed me?

or....

Is this friend harmless????

Do tell, ...

Please.

Friends are harmless until you step on them.
When you step on your friends, your enemies gain twice. "The Hobbit" highlights the benefits of having small friends.

7 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

Friends are harmless until you step on them.
When you step on your friends, your enemies gain twice. "The Hobbit" highlights the benefits of having small friends.

Yes.

But, I have never once thought of my friends as being underfoot.

I will think twice about walking around barefoot, as I love to do, in America.

2 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Yes.

But, I have never once thought of my friends as being underfoot.

I will think twice about walking around barefoot, as I love to do, in America.

Walking barefoot makes you more careful of your neighbours. Some Americans seem to struggle to walk barefoot, perhaps because of their bone spurs.

5 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

Walking barefoot makes you more careful of your neighbours. Some Americans seem to struggle to walk barefoot, perhaps because of their bone spurs.

I have never ridden roughshod over my neighbors, barefoot or not, or with spurs or not.

55 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Is this friend harmless????

Why not pick it up and find out my bonnie tumshie?

🤣

2 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

Why not pick it up and find out my bonnie tumshie?

🤣

Are you saying that this friendly variety is entirely harmless?

Because: You just KNOW that I will trust you. RIGHT?

22 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Yes.

But, I have never once thought of my friends as being underfoot.

I will think twice about walking around barefoot, as I love to do, in America.

You'd be a reckless man to walk about in America in these days.

On 1/21/2026 at 10:50 AM, StreetCowboy said:

I think It would be a common Norse word. I think the relationship between Geordie and Scots is cousinal, from a common parent.

If I may quote the sage of Slade Prison, one Norman Stanley Fletcher, in conversation with the Senior Prison Officer Mckay about a new cellmate:

"He is not a Scot is he, I mean we do have some standards."

"No he is from Sunderland. "

"Dangerously close!"

On 1/21/2026 at 10:50 AM, StreetCowboy said: